The QoG Institute at the University of Gothenburg recently released the report Correlates of the Good Society Index in the 2020s. The report ranks how well 148 countries meet the criteria for what the authors define as "the good society." The ranking is based on three indicators: infant mortality, life expectancy, and people's perceptions of their well-being.
– In a good society, newborn children should survive, people should grow old, and between birth and death, they should feel they have a good life, says Sören Holmberg, Professor Emeritus in Political Science at the University of Gothenburg and one of the report's co-authors.
The criteria for the good society were defined by Sören Holmberg in the early 2000s as a simple and tangible way to measure a country's prosperity and encourage efforts to improve people's quality of life worldwide.
The Nordic Countries Top the List, but Sweden Drops
The ranking of "the good society" is topped by the Nordic countries, with Iceland first, followed by Norway as second, Finland as third, and Sweden as fourth. The previous ranking was done in 2014, and the rankings have remained relatively stable over time. However, Sweden has dropped from second place in 2014 to fourth in the latest ranking. Should this be a cause for concern?
– These are very small changes for Sweden, says Sören Holmberg. There is no immediate reason for concern. However, in general, we should be aware that Sweden has slipped slightly in various international rankings in recent years. We don’t need to be alarmists, but we should stay alert to potential trends.
Welfare Investments Are Crucial for a Thriving Society
Since the first rankings in 2007, researchers have also examined the factors contributing to "the good society". Among the factors with a positive impact, a few stand out: access to public healthcare, women's education, an impartial public administration with low corruption, and well-functioning water and sewage infrastructure.
– It is evident that an expanded public healthcare system is an important factor. The more public healthcare, the better—but it must be public; private healthcare actually has a negative correlation, says Sören Holmberg.
The extent to which women have access to education also stands out as a key factor.
– Investing in women's education is crucial, says Sören Holmberg. The more gender equality, the better the society.
For many years, researchers at the QoG Institute have emphasized the importance of strong and impartial public institutions for a well-functioning society.
– We see a strong effect there, says Sören Holmberg. Democracy is important, but the correlation with an efficient, impartial, and non-corrupt public sector is even stronger. GDP per capita also plays a role—the wealthier a country is, the better the conditions. Moreover, countries with small populations tend to perform better than large nations with big populations.
So, what is the recipe for “the good society”?
– It comes down to investments in the welfare state—if one believes in causal relationships—especially public healthcare (not private), maintaining proper water and waste management, and, very important, investing in women's education, says Sören Holmberg.
Text: Alice Johansson
